Liberation of Milan

The Liberation of Milan occurred in early July 1796 when French general Napoleon Bonaparte and an army of 1,500 troops laid siege to the city of Milan in northern Italy with the goal of liberating the Duchy of Milan from Austrian rule. Napoleon's army faced Leonhard Hofstadter's 1,120-strong garrison, and the French decided to demand the surrender of the defenders rather than assault the city and waste hundreds of lives. The Austrians agreed to surrender in exchange for safe passage out of the city, and the Transpadane Republic was established in Milan after the liberation.